Star India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson skipped the practice session which signals his uncertain future in the Asia Cup 2025 playing XI.
Published: September 9, 2025 8:03 AM IST
New Delhi: Star India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is going through a rough phase, as his spot in the playing XI looks uncertain, with the team still looking for the right combination.
During the evening nets at the ICC Cricket Academy ahead of the Asia Cup, Samson was the first to start the wicketkeeping drills with fielding coach T. Dilip, while most of his teammates were still warming up. Focused and determined, he pulled off a outstanding full-length diving catch to his right, drawing praise. Soon after, head coach Gautam Gambhir walked up to him and engaged in a three-minute conversation, with Samson listening attentively.
Jitesh Sharma appeared confident
It looked like that Gambhir’s focus was more on Samson’s batting than on his keeping drills. Jitesh Sharma’s confident walk out of the clubhouse did say a lot. The RCB wicketkeeper-batter appeared at ease, and once the batting drills began, he joined Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya at the crease, with the middle-order hitters getting the first opportunity.
Samson was seen alone behind a palm tree
The most striking moment came when, as the four batters took turns while batting, Samson returned to the ground in his batting gear. Later, he quietly stepped away from the group and was spotted sitting alone behind a palm tree near the clubhouse dressing room.
One after another, vice-captain Shubman Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma who also bowled a few deliveries, everyone had multiple turns in the nets, some batting twice or even thrice. But, Samson was not called in to bat even once during this entire session.
Samson returned near the nets, but his future remains uncertain
Later, Samson returned near the nets, but it became evident that he wouldn’t get a chance to bat, as he sat on the ice box. Meanwhile, after finishing his batting, Dube bowled a spell of medium pace before padding up once more to bat, while Samson remained seated on the same ice box.
At last, after everyone completed their practice, Samson got his turn in the nets. While facing a net bowler, he mistimed a short delivery, a moment that pretty much summed up his day.
Rinku Singh didn’t pad up either
Another player who didn’t bother to pad up was Rinku Singh, which gave a clear sign that he won’t be part of the playing XI. Towards the end of the session, however, he did gear up and took a few throwdowns from a support staff member who wasn’t a specialist.
Gambhir has been emphasizing more on batting depth and the inclusion of batting all-rounders, which is why having Jitesh Sharma as a finisher also allows him to retain a powerful six-hitter like Shivam Dube in the lineup.
Each minute of the net session reflected Gambhir’s match strategy, and Jitesh wouldn’t be spending an hour batting just a day before the opening game if he wasn’t part of the playing XI.
Story Highlight
- Sanju Samson is going through a rough phase, as his spot in the playing XI looks uncertain, with the team still looking for the right combination
- During the practice session, Samson was the first to start the wicketkeeping drills, later he had a three-minute conversation with Gambhir which signaled his uncertain future.
- Jitesh Sharma appeared at ease, and once the batting drills began, he joined Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya at the crease,
- Another player who didn’t bother to pad up was Rinku Singh, which gave a clear sign that he won’t be part of the playing XI
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